Āge

What(!) does that mean?(!)

—Growing old?

⠀⠀(The concept means — nothing at all.)

What is old?

The oldest tree is reported to be a Great Basin bristlecone pine somewhere in California known as Methuselah. A staggering 4853+ years according to tree-ring data. But—how do they really know that? Well, so much for dendrochronology. Naturally the exact location is not divulged because humans, as we are, will destroy this beautiful giant.

I live forever and a day^{(tetrameter? or iamb, amphibrach, anapest?)}

Writhe them (rhythm)

—at times

⠀⠀timing.

Although the iambic tetrameter does not sound absurdly ridiculous, the alternate interpretation may make better sense. The tetrameter form skips along well enough, but the combination of amphibrach and anapest give a more natural rhythm of speech. These feet are also valid substitutions for the iamb, and so reduces it to three metrical feet in preference to the four. Strange how three feet give the illusion of sounding like four.

As with aging

⠀⠀timing

—all is time (for you)

—but

⠀⠀Time means nothing

⠀⠀

⠀⠀to me.

Age is in the eye of the beholder, as clichéd as this may sound. For some people/things, time is irrelevant. It is simply not important. One cannot change what has happened. One cannot really change what will happen. Ha! Predestination has you! Do what you can. Treat each day like it is your last. Not an easy thing to do, but there is good sense to it. Memento Mori, and you wonder the point of the skull. We do not look very different under the skin, always smiling in a macabre way. It is not a matter of if, it is when. Death arrives for everyone and everything. Can we ever be prepared? Doubtful, just when you think you are ready for that something, you are always caught lacking.

Scansion from Leaves > Āge